Assessment of water logging in south - western (SW) parts of Punjab, India – a case study from Muktsar district

During the last 3 decades, Punjab state has adept a spectacular increase in agricultural production practising rice-wheat cropping system with convinced irrigation facilities, leading the country in achieving food-sufficiency. This led to manifold increase in the irrigation water demand which resulted in depletion of groundwater level in the most parts of the state at an alarming rate except the south-western parts of Punjab which are facing problems of severe water logging and salinization. In the south-western Punjab the problem of water logging is most prominent in Muktsar district.

In the present study the water level was recorded in 3 villages viz. Middu Khera, Brind Khera and Mehna in Lambi block of Muktsar. A significant long term rise of water table from 1984 to 2006 has been observed in district of Muktsar. Maximum long-term rise in water table during this period is 18.1 m in Middu Khera, followed by 15.83 in Brind Khera and the least rise of 12.7 m in Mehna in Lambi block (Muktsar). Therefore, a proper strategy is required to manage the ground water resources in south-western part of Punjab by combating the water logging problems.